Winter activities in solid shape for New Brunswick’s March break

March Break kicks off in New Brunswick.

Students in New Brunswick are welcoming a week of leisure as March break begins its rollout across the Maritimes.

“I need my break,” says Ryan Thibodeau, skiing at Crabbe Mountain on Monday. “I need my time to myself, away from school, not worrying about any projects, any tests, anything like that.”

For those who favour outdoor winter activities, this year’s arrival of March break is near perfect across the province.

“It’s the last big push of the season,” says Jordan Cheney, general manager of Crabbe Mountain. “We lean on it huge.

“We’ve been fortunate to have and maintain great conditions here. Even though we haven’t had a whole bunch of snow, there’s been enough to open up the mountain. We’ve been able to keep it in great shape.”

The province’s four downhill ski hills – Crabbe Mountain in Central Hainesville, Sugarloaf Provincial Park in Atholville, Mont Farlagne in Edmundston, and Poley Mountain in Waterville – are offering extended hours and special themed days this week.

Groomed cross-country skiing trails are available at Crabbe, Sugarloaf, as well as Fundy National Park, Kouchibouguac National Park, Mactaquac Provincial Park, and Mount Carleton Provincial Park.

Groomed cross-country ski trails (along with snowshoe trails) are open at the Miramichi Cross Country Ski Club, Centre de Plein Air les Arpents de Neige in Shippagan, Club Plein Air de Caraquet, the Valley Outdoor Centre in Centreville, Centennial Park in Moncton, and Elmhurst Outdoors on the Kingston Peninsula.

Snowshoe trails are also open at Crabbe, Farlagne, Sugarloaf, Poley, Mount Carleton, Mactaquac, Fundy, Kouchibouguac, Mapleton Park in Moncton, Daly Point Nature Reserve in Bathurst, and Storeytown Cottages near Doaktown.

Due to fluctuating temperatures over the last few days, natural ice surfaces should be checked for thickness to ensure safety for skating.

Refrigerated outdoor ice-skating surfaces are open in downtown Fredericton at Officers’ Square, downtown Moncton at the Ian Fowler Oval, and uptown Saint John at Ihtoli-maqahamok - The Gathering Space.

Weekday public skating sessions have been scheduled throughout the week at indoor arenas across the province.

March break begins in Nova Scotia next week (March 10-14) and Prince Edward Island the week after that (March 17-21).

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.